Score-keeping apparatus



E. STEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

SCORE KEEPING APPARATUS. v

APPLICATION FILED 24:29. I919- Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEEI I.

INVENTORS,

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.-

5 SHEETSTSHEEY 2.

. scomz KEEPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN- 29.1919;

. E. STEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

Wrmssszs EASTEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

SCORE KEEPING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.29. 1919.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

5 SfiEETS-SHEET 3.

Wrrm-zssss lNvENfQR 7 1i E. STEIGE RWALD AND F. L. H. PFEIL.

SCORE KEEPING APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN.29, 1919.

Patented Jan. 6,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

E. STEIGERWALD AND F. L. H. PFE|L. I

SCORE KEEPlNG APPARATUS. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29,1919.

Mil-r2555 mww Patented Jan, 6, 1920.

s SHEETS-SHEEI 5.

UNITED STATES KTENT union.

EDWARD STEIG-ERWALD AND FRANK L. H. PFEIL, OF PHILADELPHIA,PENNSYLVANIA.

SCORE-KEEPING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 29,1919. Serial No. 273,717.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, EDWARD STEIGER- \VALD and FRANK L. H. PFEIL,citizens of the United States, both residing at Philadelphia, county ofPhiladelphia and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Score-Keeping Apparatus, of which the followingis a specification.

One object of our invention is to provide means which will be adaptedfor keeping the score of card games and which will be so constructedthat it can be easily and quickly operated to accurately compute thescore; thereby avoiding all dispute by contesting players concerning thescore.

Another object is to so construct our invention that it can be used tocompute the score of a card game, such as Bid pinochle, where a playerdeclares his intention to make a certain number of points and in whichthe rules of the game imposes a fine upon said player, if he fails tomake the declared number of points by deducting the number of points ofhis bid from his previously earned score, or if said player has notpreviously made a score as large as the amount of the fine, to make theplayer assume a minus score equal to the difl'erence between hispreviously made positive or plus score and the amount of his bid.

These objects, and other advantageous ends which will be describedhereinafter, we attain in the following manner, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings in which t Figure l is a top plan view of ourinvention including similarly constructed units of computing devicesmade in accordance with our invention,

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 8 is an enlarged section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1 andillustrating a change in the position of certain of the elements fromthat shown in Fig. 2, and effected by the depression of a knob orhandle,

Fig. A is an enlarged inverted plan view of one of our improvedcomputing devices showing the parts in the position which they occupy inunit A, in Fig. 1,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary inverted plan view showing the parts of one ofour computing devices after it has been moved to compute a positive orplus score such, for example, as shown in Fig. 1 by unit C,

Fig. 6 is a view of similar nature to Fig. 5 showing the parts thereofmoved into a position which would indicate a minus score, or using apopular term, would indicate that a player using the device was set backor in the hole,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary inverted plan view showing the relative positionbetween certain of the parts of our invention which would indicate thatthe player operating the device had more than made the necessary numberof points to win the game, Fig. 8 is a fragmentary inverted plan viewshowing the position of certain of the parts when the player has a minusscore of a greater number of points than the device is capable ofspecifically designating,

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation showing one position ofcertain of the elements of our invention,

Fig. 10 is a view of a similar nature to Fig. 9 showing said parts ofFig. 9 after they have been manually reset,

Fig. 11 is a perspective view of a supporting member which forms a partof our invention,

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of a main bushing which we preferablyemploy,

Fig. 13 is an elevation of a dial bushing which we preferably employ,

Fig. 14: is a perspective view of a locking spring which forms a part ofour invention.

Figs. 15 and 16 are, respectively, an elevation and a top plan view ofan indicating pointer which forms a part of our invention,

Fig. 17 is a top plan view of a split spring securing washer which wepreferably emp Fig. 18 is an elevation of a latch lever which forms apart of our invention, and

Fig. 19 is a fragmentary top plan view of a graduated movable dial whichforms :1 part of our invention.

In Fig. 1, we have illustrated our invene tion having four computingunits or devices produced in connection with a single plate 20 which ispreferably made of metal and in which each of said units or devices issimilarly constructed. However, it will be Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

understood that one or any number of these devices can be used, and inthe following description we have, therefore, described but one of thedevices.

The arrangement of our improved apparatus, as shown in Fig. 1, permitsthe inclusion of a finger 21 which is centrally mounted upon the plate20; said finger being operative to traverse, with its pivot 22 as itscenter, a series of graduations which are numbered to indicate theamount bid by a player.

It will be understood that the description and the reference numeralsmentioned hereinafter in connection with one of the units of ourimproved device relates correspondingly to all of the other units, asshown in Fig. 1.

The plate 20 has a circular recess 23 which can be pressed therein, thecenter of said recess having a hole 24 in which is mounted a dialbushing 25; said dial bushing being secured to the plate 20 between ashoulder 26 and a portion 27 of said bushing which is bent over the topof the plate, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. A rotatable dial 28 is pivotally mounted on the bushing 25; said dial on its upper surface beinggraduated, in the present instance, by forming a plurality of annularlyarranged grooves 29 ,said grooves being numbered in groups of 5, in thepresent instance, from zero (0) to- 120. The plate 20 has an opening orwindow 30 which is so arranged that a certain number of the graduationson said dial can be seen therethrough; one of the edges forming saidopening having a. projecting point 31 in alinement with any of thegraduations on said dial when the latter is turned. Thus the relativemovement between the dial and the plate 20 can be determined by therelative position of the projecting point 31 with the numberedgraduations on said dial. By pressing the grooves 29 into the dial, acorresponding number of projections 32 will be produced on the bottom ofsaid dial; these projections being arranged annularly and being spacedapart in the same manner as the graduations on the upper face of thedial.

A main bushing 33 fits within the dial bushing 25 and, in turn, forms arotatable and slidable support for a shaft 34;. said shaft having aflange 35 at its lower end and a knob 36 connected at its upper end.Thus by means of the knob 36, the shaft 34 can be both rotated and movedlengthwise. The lower end of the knob 36 is made hollow and is providedwith an offset portion 37 adapted to slidably engage a hollow offsetportion 38 on the top of the main bushing 33. A coiled spring 39 isinterposed between the knob 36 and bushing 33 and serves to move theknob 36 and shaft 34 upwardly.

A pointer 40 is secured to the main bushing 33, said pointer having ahole 41 which is provided with a flat portion adapted to register with aflat portion 42 on the main bushing 33 (see Fig. 12). The lower surfaceof the pointer 40 rests on a shoulder 43 on the main bushing 33 and theupper surface of said pointer is engaged by a split spring washer 44,said washer fitting within a groove 45 in said main bushing 33, asclearly shown in Fig. 2.

The upper surface of the plate 20 is marked with a series ofgraduations, in the present instance, ranging from Zero (0) to 50, andthese graduations are arranged in an arc concentric to the axis of theshaft 34. The pointer 40 is of such length as to traverse thegraduations on the plate 20 whenever the knob 36 is turned.

Two indicating pointers or fingers 46 and 47 are freely rotatable aroundthe dial bushing 25 and are mounted within the recess 23 of the plate20. These fingers have nubs 48 arranged to snap within two series ofsmall cavities 49 and 50 which are provided in the upper surface of theplate 20 for a purpose of indicating the number of games having beenplayed and also the number of times the player has gone in the hole, orin other words, has had a portion of his score deducted.

The bottom of the main bushing 33 has a supporting member 51 connectedthereto, said member having a hole 52 extending therethrough andincluding a fiat or straight portion 53 for abutment with a flat orstraight portion 54 on the bottom of the main bushing 33 (see Figs. 11and 12). The extreme bottom end of the main bushing 33 is pressed overthe inner surface of the supporting member 51 and said member 51 isthereby securely locked thereto and will move in conjunction with themain bushing 33 when the latter is rotated by the turning of the knob36. Thus the pointer 40 and the supporting member 51 are operated inunison.

The supporting member 51 has an arm 52 which is channel-shape in crosssection and is of varying width as clearly shown in Fig. 11. One side 54of the arm 52 provided with a notch or slot 55. This notch or slot isproduced at a part of the arm where it is reduced in width and permitsthe straight end portion 56 of a locking spring 57 to be insertedtherethrough so that said end portion 56 occupies a position within thearm 52 adjacent the inner surface of the side 54*. lip 58 which, afterthe locking spring is inserted, as above described, is turned down overthe top edge of the locking spring and thereby secures the lockingspring to the arm with the forward portion 59 of the locking springoccupying a position adjacent the outer surface 54 of the arm 52.

A latch lever 60 is pivotally mounted at 61 within the channel arm 52The lever 60 has a bifurcated or forked end 62 adapted The side 54. hasa to span the flange 35 of the shaft 34. The latch lever has aprojecting portion 63 which passes through a hole 64 in the arm 52 andis adapted to enter the spaces between any of the projections 32 on thedial 28, and thereby lock the dial 28 to the shaft 34 so that byrotating the shaft 34 through the medium of the knob 36, the dial 28will also be rotated, and move in conjunction with the pointer 40. Inorder to move the projecting portion 63 of the latch lever 60 betweenthe spaces of the projections 32 of the dial 28, it is necessary to movethe knob 36 downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the positionshown in Fig. 3. This causes the flange 35 to swing the latch lever 60on its pivot 61 and to raise the projecting portion 63 between theprojections 32. The locking spring 57 has an ofiset tongue 65 whichprovides a shoulder 66 adapted to spring under the outer end 67 of thelatch lever 60 when the latter is thus moved. Figs. 3 and 10 clearlyshow the tongue 65 of the spring 57 in this position, so that when theknob 36 is released, the tongue 65 will serve to hold the end 67 of thelatch lever in its raised position, or in other words, in a lockingposition with the dial 28. It is thus obvious, that in order to releasethe latch lever 60, it is necessary that the tongue 65 of the lockingspring 57 be depressed to free the latch lever of the shoulder 66 ofsaid locking spring 57.

In the operation of our apparatus, this releasing of the latch lever 60from the tongue 65 of the spring 57 is automatically efiected by adepending post 68 which is rigidly secured to the plate 20 and in suchposition that when the arm 52 with the latch lever 60 and locking spring57 thereon, is moved by the rotation of the knob 36, the end 69 of thetongue 65 will abut the post 68 and thus stop the movement of the spring57; thus permitting the arm 52 to be moved to an extent suflicient tocause the forward end 67 of the latch lever 60 to move away from theshoulder 66 on the locking spring 57. The spring 39 will then serve tomove the shaft 3% upwardly and withdraw the projecting portion 63 of thelatch lever 60 from the space between the projections 32 of the dial 28.

An indicating finger 70 is secured to a pivot post 71 which extendsthrough the plate 20 and also the end of the pivot post has securedthereto a forked arm 72 (see Figs. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8). The lowersurface of the dial 28 has a lug 73 thereon adapted to be positionedbetween the furcations 74: and 74 of the forked arm 72, as clearly shownin Fig. 1. The indicating finger 7 0, due to rotatable movement of thedial and the lug 73, swung in opposite directions so as to register witheither of two graduations 75 and 76 on the upper surface of the plate20, or in some instances, the

finger 70 will move beyond the markings 7 5 and 76, for example, asshown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8.

In the use of our invention as score keeping apparatus, the marking 75indicates a minus score when the finger 70 registers therewith and theworking 76 indicates a positive or plus score when the finger 70registers therewith, as will be more fully explained in the followingdescription.

The post 68 is so positioned that when the pointer 10 is in registerwith the zero marking on the plate 20, the locking spring 57 will be inabutment with said post 68 and free of the latch lever 60, and the latchlever will tend to automatically move through the medium of the coiledspring 39 out of locking engagement with the dial 28.

Considering that the apparatus of our invention is to be used forkeeping the score of a four-handed game of Bid pinochle, said apparatuswould include four units of the counting devices, as above described,each player using a specified unit. 111 view of this, we preferablyprovide each of the knobs 36 with a disk having a letter thereon and, asshown in Fig. 1, these disks have the letters A, B, C and D eitherprinted or otherwise impressed thereupon. Considering that one of theplayers bids twenty-five (25), the finger 21 in the middle of the plate20 is moved to the amount of the bid. The players then determine whatmeld they have in their hands and move their respective pointers 4-0 tothe amount of their meld.

This is also done by the player who makes the bid, moving the pointer 10of his own unit to the amount of his meld. The cards of the hand arethen played and considering that the meld of the bidding player istwenty (20) and that he makes the required five (5) points in playinghis hand, he then moves his pointer 4L0 into register with thetwentyfive (25) marking of his unit and then depresses the knob 36 tocause the latch lever 60 to engage between the projections 32 of thedial 28. This movement also causes the locking spring to move intoholding engagement with the latch lever. Said bidding player thenrotates the knob 36 contraclockwise and the dial 28 will be moved untilthe end 69 of the locking spring engages the post 68. The dial 28 willthen indicate at the projecting point 31. the amount made by the player,for example, as shown in unit C of Fig. 1, the projecting point 31 is inregister with the graduation marked twenty-five (25) on the dial, thepointer 40 will then register with the zero marking on the plate 20 andthe latch lever 60 will be automatically unlocked by the said engagementof the locking spring with the post 68, and the knob 36 willautomatically m ove upwardly, due to the action of the coiled spring 39.This movement of the dial 28 also causes its lug 7 3 to move the forkedarm 72 into a position to cause the indicating finger to register withthe plus or positive graduation or marking 76 so that the score, as seenfrom a view of the top of the plate, indicates that the player has aplus or positive score of twenty-five (25) for his hand. The players notbidding but who make a certain number of points add the number of pointsto the amount of their meld by moving their respective pointers 40 andthen by depressing the respective knobs and turning the knobscontra-clockwise, their individual scores will be indicated by therelative position between the point 31 and the graduations of the dial.In this manner the successive scorings of the players can be registered,and as long as a player has a positive score, the respective indicatingfingers 70 will point toward the plus marking 7 6 on the plate 20. Ifany one player secures the necessary one hundred and twenty (120)points, it will be re istered between the point 31 and the dial and theindicating finger 7 0 will also be moved beyond the plus marking 76, forexample, as shown in Fig. 7. In view of the fact that the dial will haverevolved more than one complete revolution contra-clockwise, the forkedarm 72 will be pushed entirely out of the path of the lug 7 3. In orderto reset the indicating finger after it has been moved into theposition, as shown in Fig. 7 it is necessary to manually move saidfinger,

.when the dial has been moved so that the point 81 registers with thezero marking thereof, in other words, into the position shown in Fig. 4.

If a player fails to make the amount of his bid, his nointer 40 isreturned to the zero marking on the plate 20 merely by a rotatablemovement of the knob 36 without depressing the same. After the pointer40 has thus been returned, the knob 36 is depressed to cause the lever60 to lock the dial and the knob is then turned clockwise to the amountthat the player is to be fined or the amount which is to be deductedfrom his score. This will move the dial into a position which willindicate the registered score. If the amount of his fine is greater thanthe amount which he previously earned, the dial will be moved beyond thezero marking relatively to the point 31 and the lug 7 3 will move theindicating finger 7 0 into register with the minus marking 75, such forexample, as shown in unit D of Fig. 1 and also in Fig. 6. Thus theposition of the indicating finger 7 0 shows whether the score, asindicated by the dial, is plus or minus. For example, unit D of Fig. 1showsa score of one hundred and ten (110) however, the indicating finger70 points toward the minus marking 7 5 which shows that the player has aminus poses.

score of ten (10) points, since it is obvious that it would require, acontra-clockwise movement of the dial in order to bring the zero markingof the dial in register with the point 31.

Thus the apparatus of our invention is particularly adapted forregistering and adding and can be used for numerous pur- While we haveillustrated the plate 20 having four units, it will be noted that one orany number of units can be used.

While we have thus described our invention as taking a particular form,it will be understood that the various parts may be changed withoutdeparting from the spirit thereof, and hence we do not limit ourselvesto the precise construction set forth, but consider that we are atliberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly come within thescope of the appended claims.

Having thus described our invention, what ve claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A score keeping device comprising a supporting structure; anannularly graduated dial rotatably mounted on said supporting structure;means for registering with the graduations of the dial; plus and minusmarkings on said supporting structure; a

finger movably mounted on said supporting structure; and means attachedjointly on said finger and dial, and operative when said dial is rotateda predetermined distance in opposite directions to move said fingeralternately to said plus and minus markings and, when said dial is movedin said. directions beyond said predetermined distance, to move saidfinger alternately beyond said plus and minus markings; substantially asdescribed.

2. A score keeping device comprising a supporting structure; anannularly graduated dial rotatably mounted on said supporting structure;means for registering with the graduations of the dial; plus and minusmarkings on said supporting structure; a finger movably mounted on saidsupporting structure; a bifurcated arm connected to said finger; and alug on said dial, said lug being operative to engage between thefurcations of said arm when the dial is rotated a predetermined distancein opposite directions to move said finger alternately to said plus andminus markings, said lug being operative when said dial is moved in saiddirections beyond said predetermined dis tance to move said armcompletely out of the path of the lug whereby the finger will berespectively moved beyond said plus and minus markings; substantially asdescribed.

3. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dialhaving graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduationsof said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushingthrough which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed to saidbushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaftto the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate saidsupporting member and said pointer; and a latch lever operativelyconnected to said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, thelatch lever will be moved into locking engagement with the dial;substantially as described.

-l-. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate having anopening therein; a dial movably mounted under said plate and havinggraduations visible through said opening; means adjacent said openingfor registration with the graduations of said dial; said plate havinggraduations thereon; a shaft; a bushing through which said shaftextends; a supporting member fixed to said bushing; a pointer fixed tosand bushing; means for couphng said shaft to the bushlng whereby thebushing can be rotated to rotate said supporting member and said vpointer; and a latch lever operatively connected to said shaft whereby,when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latch lever will be moved intolocking engagement with the dial; substantially as described.

5. Apparatus of the character described, including means havinggraduations there on; means for traversing said graduations; a dialhaving grooves pressed in the upper face and forming graduations on saidface and projections spaced apart on the lower face, said first meanshaving a portion for registering with the graduations on said dial; andlocking means adapted to enter the spaces between said projections andlock said dial to said second means whereby the locking means can belocated under the dial so as not to obscure or interfere with thereading of the graduations; substantially as described. A,

6. Apparatus of the character described, including means providinggraduations; a pointer for traversing said graduations; a supportingmember having a channel arm, one side of said arm having a slot therein;a locking spring having a portion extending into said channel throughsaid slot; a graduated dial; a locking lever pivotally mounted on saidarm; said spring having a portion adapted to spring into engagement withsaid locking lever to hold the latter in locking engagement with thedial; means operatively connecting said traversing means and saidsupporting means; and means adapted to be engaged by said spring torelease said locking lever and permit it to be moved out of lockingengagement with the dial; sub

stantially as described.

7. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate havinggraduations thereon; a rotatable bushing; a shaft slidable through saidbushing; a knob secured to said shaft; a spring for normally raisingsaid shaft; a pointer secured to said bushing and adapted to traversesaid graduations; a graduated dial; and a locking lever operativelyconnected to said shaft, whereby when the shaft is lowered, the leverwill engage said dial to cause it to rotate with said bushing;substantially as described.

8. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate havinggraduations thereon; a rotatable bushing; a shaft slidable through saidbushing; a knob secured to said shaft a spring for normally raising saidshaft a pointer rotatably secured to said bushing and adapted totraverse said graduations; a graduated dial; a locking lever operativelyconnected to said shaft, whereby when the shaft is lowered, the leverwill engage said dial to cause it to rotate with said bushing; meansautomatically movable to hold said locking lever in looking engagementwith said dial, after said shaft has been moved; and means fordisengaging said latter spring from the locking lever to permit saidfirst spring to move the shaft upwardly and thereby move the lockinglever out of locking engagement with the dial; substantially asdescribed.

9. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dialhaving graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduationsof said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushingthrough which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed tosaidbushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaftto the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate saidsupporting member and said pointer; a latch lever operatively connectedto said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latchlever will be moved into looking engagement with the dial; and a springfor moving said shaft lengthwise to move the latch lever out of lockingengagement with said dial; substantially as described.

10. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dialhaving graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduationsof said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushingthrough which said shaft extends; a sup porting member fixed to saidbushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaftto the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate saidsupporting member and said pointer; a latch lever operatively connectedto said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latchlever will be moved into lockmg engagement with the dial; a spring formoving said shaft lengthwise to move the latch lever out of lockingengagement with said dial; a locking spring for holding said latch leverin locking position with said dial against the action of said firstspring; and means for automatically disengaging said locking spring fromthe latch lever; substantially as described.

11. Apparatus of the character described, including a plate; a dialhaving graduations thereon; means for registration with the graduationsof said dial; said plate having graduations thereon; a shaft; a bushingthrough which said shaft extends; a supporting member fixed to saidbushing; a pointer fixed to said bushing; means for coupling said shaftto the bushing whereby the bushing can be rotated to rotate saidsupporting member and said pointer; a latch lever operatively connectedto said shaft whereby, when the shaft is moved lengthwise, the latchlever will be moved into locking engagement with the dial; a spring formoving said shaft lengthwise to move the latch lever out of lockingengagement with said dial;- a locking spring for holding said latchlever in locking position with said dial against the action of saidfirst spring; and a post with which said locking spring engages to causemovement of said locking spring to free said latch lever and permit itto be moved out of locking engagement with said dial; substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDWARD STElGERlVrrLD. FRANK L. H. PFEIL.

lVitnesses CnAs. E. Po'rTs, MARY A. INGLAR.

